By Vivian Fang

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With seven years’ worth of experience and a family history of football, Defensive End Senior Kelii Padello’s determination and dedication has paid dividends, yielding six sacks and three tackles during the season.

“All of my uncles, my dad, my grandpas, they all played football before me,” said Padello, “My favorite thing about football is representing my family’s name on the field again.”

The season has been auspicious so far; the team has had four wins, each by a margin of twenty or more points and one loss. Even then, Kelii Padello demonstrated his sportsmanship and perseverance. “(When) we were playing Punahou, Kelii was one of the guys who told the team that, ‘Hey, we learn from this, we move on,’” said varsity coach Roderick York.

Being one of six team captains, Kelii Padello contributes both on and off the playing field. “He’s so explosive and quick off the line that most linemen can’t block him. In fact, there hasn’t been a lineman that can block him,” said York. Even with football on his plate, Padello has managed to balance the demands of school. “He’s really stepped it up academically (this year),” said Kelii Padello’s father, Kimo Padello, “His cumulative (GPA) is 3.0.”

Kelii Padello hopes to major in anthropology at Weber State University in Utah and score a football scholarship to help ease college costs.